S.P. Sullivan, NJ.comMalik Williams was shot and killed by police after authorities say he threatened officers with tools found in the garage where he was hiding.

HACKENSACK — Malik Williams charged at police with a claw hammer and a 16-inch hand ssaw before being fatally shot in a Garfield garage last December, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said today.

Molinelli's statement, which provides never before released details of the incident, was issued just hours after news that the officers who fired the fatal shots - Sgt. Jose A. Brito of the Garfield police and Kenneth Keenan of the Bergen County Police Department - had been cleared of any wrongdoing by a grand jury. Molinelli's office also provided pictures of the hammer and saw.

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Williams' shooting sparked a series of protests in Garfield - first to call for the grand jury investigation, and then to urge it to move at a quicker pace.

Many of the questions surrounding the shooting centered on the police's claims that Williams had been armed with tools gathered from the Dahnert Park Lane garage where he had barricaded himself after fleeing police custody. Until today, the specific tools had never been identified.

According to Molinelli, Williams, a 19-year-old with a prior criminal record, fled Garfield police headquarters on Dec. 10 after learning that his family was unable to post his bail.

After running through Dahnerts Lake Park, he barricaded himself inside the nearby garage using three air conditioners and a heavy drill press. Garfield and Bergen County officers were in pursuit, and were able to locate him with the help of a canine.

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Police were unable to open the side door due to the barricade, and opted to open the front bay door. Williams popped into view from behind a pile of materials, but did not comply with Keenan's commands to surrender.

"Instead, Malik Williams advanced toward Officer Keenan and Sergeant Brito armed with a claw hammer and metal hand saw with 16 inch blade," Molinelli said. "He continued to advance towards both officers while holding the claw hammer and metal hand saw in an aggressive, threatening manner. As he was advancing towards the officers, Malik Williams cursed at them."

Molinelli said that Keenan did not draw his weapons until Williams had approached to within 10 yards. While backing out of the garage, Williams continued to advance until he was within 7 to 8 feet, at which point Keenan and Brito fired their patrol weapons.

A total of nine rounds were fired - five from Keenan and four from Brito - with five bullets hitting Williams in the chest, abdomen, thigh, wrist and hand.

"It is clear from the objective evidence that Mr. Williams was fired upon from the front and not the rear of his body."

Molinelli also stressed that Williams' entire encounter in the Garfield police station was on videotape, and that he was not mistreated during the two hours he spent there. He also said Williams had armed himself with a rock taken from train tracks close to Dahnert Park Lane.